Image capture device, system, method for controlling image capture device, and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium for deleting region information and a set value of pan, tilt, and zoom

ABSTRACT

The present invention discloses an image capture device comprising, an image capture unit, an image-capture control unit for controlling PTZ, a storage unit for storing a set value of the PTZ, and region information that specifies a detection region for an object in a captured image, a reception unit for receiving a deletion instruction to delete the region information from an information processing device, and a processing unit for, when the deletion instruction to delete the region information is received by the reception unit, deleting, from the storage unit, the region information for which the deletion instruction has been received, and deleting the set value from the storage unit if the set value associated with the region information for which the deletion instruction has been received is not associated with another region information.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to an image capture device, a system, amethod for controlling an image capture device, and a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

A monitoring camera with a pan-tilt-zoom (PTZ) mechanism is providedwith a function of registering a PTZ position as a preset in accordancewith an instruction from a user, and moving to the PTZ positionregistered as a PTZ preset in accordance with an instruction. Also, themonitoring camera is provided with a function of, for example, detectingan object in a captured image. The user can operate a user interface(UI) on a screen that displays an image received by an informationprocessing device from the monitoring camera, and set a detection regionthat indicates a region to perform detection in the screen, anddetection rules including a detection rule name or the like.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-69494 discloses a technology bywhich, when a region of a mask for privacy protection is set in an imagecaptured by a monitoring camera, a mask region and a PTZ position thatare designated with screen coordinates are transmitted to the monitoringcamera, and the monitoring camera deals with the mask region as spatialcoordinates based on the mask region and the PTZ position.

Also, in a monitoring camera that distributes a captured image to aclient device, a command group is implemented to give instructions tochange settings of the monitoring camera from an external informationprocessing device, create, edit, and delete a preset, and giveinstructions to create, edit, and delete settings of detection rulesincluding designation of a detection region. As an example of such acommand group, one that is defined by a standard provided by ONVIF (OpenNetwork Video Interface Forum) in the ONVIF Specification(http://www.onvif.org/specs/DocMap.html) is known.

It is conceivable that the technology disclosed in Japanese PatentLaid-Open No. 2001-69494 is applied, and when a detection rule iscreated or edited, a detection region that is designated with screencoordinates to detect an object is associated with a PTZ preset thatincludes a PTZ position, and the detection region is dealt with asspatial coordinates. In this case, even if the detection rule isdeleted, when the PTZ preset associated with the detection rule remainsin a storage device, an unnecessary PTZ preset may press a storagecapacity and cause a problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

When a PTZ preset command and a detection rule command are independentlyoperated as in the case of ONVIF commands, only a detection rule can bedetected using a command for the detection rule, which is particularly aproblem, and a technology for effectively prevent it is needed.

One aspect of exemplary embodiments relates to an image capture devicecomprising, an image capture unit, an image-capture control unitconfigured to control pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) when an image iscaptured by the image capture unit, a storage unit configured to store aset value of the PTZ for capturing an image of a predetermined region inan image-capture area of the image capture unit, and region informationthat specifies a detection region for detecting an object in a capturedimage, a reception unit configured to receive a deletion instruction todelete the region information from an information processing device, anda processing unit configured to, when the deletion instruction to deletethe region information is received by the reception unit, delete, fromthe storage unit, the region information for which the deletioninstruction has been received, and delete the set value from the storageunit if the set value associated with the region information for whichthe deletion instruction has been received is not associated withanother region information.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments (with reference to theattached drawings).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of a system configuration including aconfiguration of a monitoring camera according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2A shows an example of a functional configuration of a monitoringcamera 100 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2B shows an example of a functional configuration of a clientdevice 120 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2C shows an example of a hardware configuration of the monitoringcamera 100 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a PTZ preset setting screen according to anembodiment.

FIG. 4 shows an example of a detection rule setting screen according toan embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a table showing an example of detection rule settings and atable showing an example of PTZ preset settings according to anembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a sequence chart showing an example of communication andprocessing performed between the monitoring camera 100 and the clientdevice 120 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing an example of PTZ preset deletionprocessing performed by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a sequence chart showing another example of communication andprocessing performed between the monitoring camera 100 and the clientdevice 120 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of detection rule settingprocessing performed by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of PTZ preset deletionprocessing performed by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing an example of PTZ preset deletionprocessing performed by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing an example of PTZ preset deletionprocessing performed by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 13 is a sequence chart showing yet another example of communicationand processing performed between the monitoring camera 100 and theclient device 120 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing an example of detection rule deletionprocessing performed by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a sequence chart showing yet another example of communicationand processing performed between the monitoring camera 100 and theclient device 120 according to an embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing an example of detection rule deletionprocessing performed. by the monitoring camera 100 according to anembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference tothe attached drawings. Note that the following embodiments are notintended to limit the invention according to the claims. Although theembodiments describe a plurality of features, not all of these featuresare essentially for the invention, and the features may also be combinedin any manner. Furthermore, in the attached diagrams, the same orsimilar constituents are assigned the same reference numerals, andredundant descriptions are omitted.

First Embodiment

A system configuration according to the present embodiment will bedescribed below with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing anexample of a system configuration including a monitoring camera 100. Themonitoring camera 100 and a client device 120 are communicably connectedto each other via a network 130. The client device 120 transmits, to themonitoring camera 100, control commands such as commands to giveinstructions of create, edit, and delete a PTZ preset, and commands togive instructions to create, edit, and delete a detection rule in objectdetection. The monitoring camera 100 creates, edits, and deletes a PTZpreset, and also creates, edits, and deletes a detection rule inaccordance with the commands, and transmits responses to the commands tothe client device 120.

The monitoring camera 100 is, for example, an image capture device thatis installed in a monitoring target area, such as a convenience store,an apartment, an airport, a station building, a theater, a movietheater, or a stadium. The monitoring camera 100 can also be called anetwork camera, an image generation device, and an image communicationdevice, or the like. The monitoring camera 100 is installed to capturean image of a predetermined region (monitoring region) in the monitoringtarget area, and has a function of distributing a captured image (movingimage, still image) to the client device 120 via the network 130. Themonitoring camera 100 has a PTZ (pan-tilt-zoom) control function, andmay also have a platform (not shown) for control the pan and tilt. Aconfiguration may also be employed in which a plurality of monitoringcameras 100 are prepared and separately installed to capture images of aplurality of monitoring regions in the monitoring target area.

The client device 120 is an information processing device thatcommunicates with the monitoring camera 100 via the network 130 andcontrols operations of the monitoring camera 100. Alternatively, theclient device 120 can also be called a camera control device, an imagecommunication device, an image processing device, or the like. Forexample, the client device 120 can control the platform and make arequest to change image quality settings, PTZ control, or the like.Also, the client device 120 transmits control commands such as theaforementioned PTZ preset command and detection rule command to themonitoring camera 100. The client device 120 receives, via the network130, moving images and still images captured by the monitoring camera100. The client device 120 can also function as an image analysis device(image processing device, image analysis device) that analyzes imagescaptured by the monitoring camera 100, and can perform processing to,for example, detect and determine a person who is present in themonitoring region, and to count the number of people who have passedthrough a specific region (area or position) in the monitoring region.The client device 120 can be realized as an information processingdevice; for example, a personal computer, a server, a smartphone, atablet, or the like. The client device 120 is not limited to beingrealized by a single device, and the functions thereof may be realizedby a plurality of devices cooperating with each other.

Next, an example of a functional configuration of the monitoring camera100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2A. In FIG. 2A, a controlunit 101 is constituted by a CPU, for example, and controls the entiremonitoring camera 100. A storage unit 102 is mainly used as an area forstoring various data, such as an area for storing programs to beexecuted by the control unit 101, a work area when a program is beingexecuted, a set value storage area for settings of PTZ presets,detection rules, or the like, and an area for storing image datagenerated by a later-described image capture unit 103. The image captureunit 103 converts, to digital data, an analog signal that is acquired bycapturing an image of an object formed by an imaging optical system ofthe monitoring camera 100, and outputs the digital data as a capturedimage to the storage unit 102. If a detection region for detecting anobject is set for a captured image, the image capture unit 103 canoutput an image of the detection region of the captured image. Capturedimages may include a moving image and a still image. Upon a capturedimage being output to the storage unit 102, the control unit 101receives an image acquisition event from the image capture unit 103.

A compression/encoding unit 104 perform processing to compress andencode a captured image output by the image capture unit 103 based on aformat of JPEG, H.264, H.265, or the like to generate image data, andoutputs the image data to the storage unit 102. A communication unit 105is used when receiving control commands from an external device, andtransmitting responses to control commands and images (image data storedin the storage unit 102) to an external device. If a command is receivedfrom an external device, the control unit 101 receives a command receiptevent from the communication unit 105. An image-capture control unit 106controls the platform for controlling the pan and tilt of the imagecapture unit 103 and controls zoom magnification in the imaging opticalsystem in accordance with a value of the pan, tilt, or zoom that isinput by the control unit 101, and performs control so as to capture animage of a desired region in the monitoring region.

Next, an example of a functional configuration of the client device 120will be described with reference to FIG. 2B. In FIG. 2B, a control unit121 is constituted by a CPU, for example, and controls the entire clientdevice 120. A storage unit 122 is mainly used as an area for storingvarious data, such as an area for storing programs to be executed by thecontrol unit 121, and a work area when a program is being executed. Adisplay unit 123 is constituted by, for example, an LCD, an organic ELdisplay, or the like, and displays, to a user of the client device 120,a viewer screen for images (moving images, still images) received fromthe monitoring camera 100, a PTZ preset setting screen, a detection rulesetting screen, various messages, and so on.

An input unit 124 is constituted by, for example, buttons, a keyboard, atouch panel, a mouse, or the like, and notifies the control unit 121 ofthe content of a screen operation performed by the user. A decoding unit125 decodes compressed and encoded image data received via acommunication unit 126 based on a format such as JPEG, H.264, or H.265,and extracts the image data in the storage unit 122. The communicationunit 126 is used when control commands, such as commands to makerequests to create, edit, acquire, and delete a PTZ preset, and commandsto create, edit, delete, and acquire a detection rule for objectdetection are transmitted to the monitoring camera 100, and whenresponses to control commands and videos are received from themonitoring camera 100.

Although the functional configurations of the monitoring camera 100 andthe client device 120 have been described above with reference to FIGS.2A and 2B, the processing blocks shown here describe an exampleembodiment of the monitoring camera 100 and the client device 120, andthis need not necessarily be the case. Various modifications and changesmay be made within the scope of the gist of the present invention, andfor example, an audio input unit and an audio output unit may also beprovided.

Next, an example of a hardware configuration of the monitoring camera100 will be described with reference to FIG. 2C. A CPU 111 is a devicethat comprehensively controls the monitoring camera 100 and computes andprocesses data, and can function as the control unit 101. The CPU 111compresses and encodes a digital image signal output from a camera unit116 and generates image data, and can also function as thecompression/encoding unit 104. A RAM 112 is a volatile memory and isused as a temporary storage area such as a main memory, a work area, orthe like of the CPU 111. A ROM 113 is a nonvolatile memory, and imagedata and other data, various programs for the CPU 111 to operate, and soon, are stored in respective predetermined areas. The CPU 111, forexample, uses the RAM 112 as a work memory and controls each part of themonitoring camera 100 in accordance with a program stored in the ROM113. Note that the programs for the CPU 111 to operate are not limitedto being stored in the ROM 113, and may alternatively be stored in astorage device 114.

The storage device 114 is constituted by a magnetic disk such as an HDDor a flash memory, for example, and can function as the storage unit102. The storage device 114 stores an application program, an OS, acontrol program, a related program, and so on. The storage device 114can read and write data based on the control of the CPU 111. The storagedevice 114 may also be used in place of the RAM 112 and the ROM 113.

A communication device 115 is a communication interface forcommunication with the client device 120 via the network 130 based onthe control of the CPU 111, and can function as the communication unit105. The communication device 115 may include a wireless communicationmodule, and this module may include any of known circuit mechanismsincluding an antenna system, an RF transceiver, one or more amplifiers,a tuner, one or more oscillators, a digital signal processor, a CODECchip set, a subscriber identity module card, a memory, or the like. Thecommunication device 115 may also include a wired communication modulefor wired connection. The wired communication module allowscommunication with other devices via one or more external ports. Thecommunication device 115 may also include various software componentsfor processing data. The external ports are coupled to other devicesdirectly via the Ethernet, USB, IEEE1394, or the like, or indirectly viaa network. Note that software that realizes functionalities equivalentto the above-described devices may replace hardware devices.

A camera unit 116 is constituted by an imaging optical system, an imagesensor such as a CCD or a CMOS, a development processing unit, and soon, and can function as the image capture unit 103. The camera unit 116captures an image of the monitoring region in the monitoring targetarea, which is a real space, and generates the image. The camera unit116 converts an analog image signal obtained through photoelectricconversion using the image sensor such as a CCD or CMOS image sensor, toa digital image signal through A/D conversion. The camera unit 116 alsoperforms development processing, such as DeBayer processing, whitebalance processing, and tone conversion processing, on the digital imagesignal, and outputs the processed signal to the CPU 111. For example,the camera unit 116 can acquire still images, and can also acquireimages for a predetermined number of frames (e.g. 30 frames) per minuteto acquire moving images (live video) at 30 fps of the monitoringregion.

A camera control device 117 includes a platform for changing an imagecapturing direction, and a mechanism for changing settings for capturingan image, such as settings of zooming, focusing, and aperture, andfunctions as the image-capture control unit 106. An operation unit 118is constituted by, for example, buttons, four-direction keys, a touchpanel, or the like, and accepts operation input from the user.

Although FIG. 2C is shown as a hardware configuration diagram of themonitoring camera 100, the hardware configuration of the client device120 may also conform to that in FIG. 2C. In this case, the camera unit116 and the camera control device 117 are excluded from theconfiguration. The CPU 111 can also function as the decoding unit 125,and the operation unit 118 functions as the input unit 124 and mayfurther include a keyboard, a mouse, and so on.

Next, a PTZ preset setting screen 300, which is displayed on the clientdevice 120 according to the present embodiment, will be described withreference to FIG. 3. A display region 301 is a region for displaying animage received from the monitoring camera 100. The user operates a panoperation bar 302, a tilt operation bar 303, and a zoom operation bar304 on the input unit 124 while viewing the display region 301 to adjustcontrol values of the pan, tilt, and zoom of the monitoring camera 100and determine image-capture conditions. In the present embodiment, animage-capture area (PTZ control area) that is specified by the rangesthat can be taken by the pan, tilt, and zoom values corresponds to themonitoring region that is assigned to the monitoring camera 100 in themonitoring target area. By adjusting PTZ set values, the monitoringcamera 100 can set image-capture conditions so as to capture an image ofa desired region in the monitoring region in the image-capture area.

When a PTZ preset is created using PTZ set values that are currentlydisplayed on the PTZ preset setting screen 300, the user presses a PTZpreset create button 307 through the input unit 124, and transmits a PTZpreset create command from the communication unit 126 to the monitoringcamera 100. The PTZ preset create command can include designation of apreset name. Thus, a newly-generated PTZ preset setting is registered ina PTZ preset setting table 510 shown in FIG. 5. Upon a PTZ presetacquire command being transmitted from the communication unit 126 to themonitoring camera 100, the client device 120 receives a set value thatis registered as a response to the command in the PTZ preset settingtable 510, and displays a preset name in a PTZ preset setting listdisplay area 306.

When a PTZ preset of the monitoring camera 100 is edited, the PTZ presetto be operated is selected from the PTZ preset setting list display area306 on the input unit 124, and the pan operation bar 302, the tiltoperation bar 303, and the zoom operation bar 304 are operated tooperate the PTZ of the camera to a desired position. After the PTZoperation, an edit button 309 is pressed, and a PTZ preset edit commandis transmitted from the communication unit 126 to the monitoring camera100. Thus, in the monitoring camera 100, the set value to be edited, ofthe PTZ preset settings registered in the PTZ preset setting table 510,is updated.

When a PTZ preset setting of the monitoring camera 100 is deleted, thePTZ preset to be operated is selected from the PTZ preset setting listdisplay area 306 on the input unit 124, a delete button 308 is pressed,and a PTZ preset delete command is transmitted from the communicationunit 126 to the monitoring camera 100. Thus, in the monitoring camera100, the set value to be deleted, of the PTZ preset settings registeredin the PTZ preset setting table 510, is deleted from the table.

A detection rule setting screen 400 of the client device 120 accordingto the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 4. Adetection region setting area 401 is a region for displaying an imagereceived from the monitoring camera 100 and a detection region, andenables a detection region to be set. The user designates a plurality ofpoints in the detection region setting area 401 using the input unit124, and a polygon that connects these points is set as a detectionregion. The detection region is specified by screen coordinates of thedesignated points. Furthermore, to set the detection region with spatialcoordinates, the user can select a PTZ preset in a list box 402 forselecting PTZ preset settings that are set to the monitoring camera 100,using the input unit 124.

The user inputs a rule name to a text box 403 for inputting a rule namefor identifying a detection rule, presses a create button 404, andtransmits a detection rule create command from the communication unit126 to the monitoring camera 100. Thus, a newly-generated detection rulesetting is registered in a detection rule setting table 500 shown inFIG. 5. Upon transmitting a detection rule acquire command from thecommunication unit 126 to the monitoring camera 100, the client device120 receives, as responses to the command, set values registered in thedetection rule setting table 500, and displays a detection rule name ina detection rule setting list display area 405.

When a detection rule setting of the monitoring camera 100 is edited, adetection rule to be operated is selected from the detection rulesetting list display area 405 on the input unit 124, the detection ruleis edited by operating the detection region setting area 401, the PTZpreset selection list box 402, and rule name text box 403, then the editbutton 407 is pressed, and a detection rule edit command is transmittedfrom the communication unit 126 to the monitoring camera 100. Thus, inthe monitoring camera 100, the set value to be edited, of the detectionrule settings registered in the detection rule setting table 500, isupdated.

When a detection rule setting of the monitoring camera 100 is deleted, adetection rule to be operated is selected from the detection rulesetting list display area 405 on the input unit 124, a delete button 406is pressed, and a detection rule delete command is transmitted from thecommunication unit 126 to the monitoring camera 100. Thus, in themonitoring camera 100, the set value to be deleted, of the detectionrule settings registered in the detection rule setting table 500, isdeleted from the table.

The detection rule settings and the preset settings in the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 5. FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a datastructure of the detection rule settings. The detection rule settingtable 500 held by the monitoring camera 100 is configured to include adetection rule name that identifies each detection rule, regioninformation for specifying each detection region, and information forspecifying a PTZ preset that is associated with each detection rule. Thedetection rule setting table 500 is stored in the storage unit 102.

The region information for specifying a detection region is coordinatesfor specifying an area occupied by the detection region in a screen(e.g. the detection region setting area 401 in FIG. 4) that displays animage, or in a captured image. If the detection region has a rectangularshape, the detection region may be specified by the coordinates of fourvertexes, or may be specified by the coordinates of two vertexes thatdiagonally oppose each other. In the case of a polygon other than arectangle, the detection region can be specified by the coordinates ofthe vertexes thereof.

By combining the PTZ preset information with the detection regioninformation, a detection region defined by screen coordinates can beconverted to a detection region defined by spatial coordinates as adesired region in the monitoring region in the PTZ control area.Further, by referencing registered values of a PTZ preset, an associatedPTZ preset and the presence thereof can be determined for each detectionrule.

FIG. 5 is a table showing an example of a data structure of the PTZpreset settings. The preset setting table 510 held by the monitoringcamera 100 is configured to include a preset name that identifies eachpreset setting, PTZ set values, a detection rule name for which each PIZpreset is set, and information representing a preset creator. The PTZpreset setting table 510 is stored in the storage unit 102.

The PTZ set values are used as control values for controlling the pan,tilt and zoom in the image-capture control unit 106 in order to capturean image of a desired region in the monitoring region in the PTZ controlarea. Since a detection rule name, which is associated with each PTZpreset setting, is registered for each detection rule, it can bedetermined whether or not each of the PTZ presets is set for a detectionrule.

When a user newly creates a preset using the preset setting screen 300,this user is the preset creator. On the other hand, if the user does notdesignate a preset when setting a detection rule, and a preset iscreated on the monitoring camera 100 side, the monitoring camera is thepreset creator. Accordingly, there are two types of PTZ presets in thepresent embodiment; namely, a first PTZ preset that is generated inaccordance with an instruction to create a PTZ preset, and a second PTZpreset that is created in accordance with an instruction to create adetection rule. The creator information may be, for example, flaginformation that is 0 or 1, and may be 1 when the user is the creator,and 0 when the monitoring camera 100 is the creator, or vice versa. Inthis case, whether or not the creator is the monitoring camera 100 canbe determined by checking the flag value.

Next, a description will be given, with reference to FIG. 6, of asequence in which the monitoring camera 100 according to the presentembodiment sends a detection rule create or edit command and a PTZpreset delete command to the client device 120. The client device 120transmits, from the communication unit 126, a PTZ preset create or editcommand to create or edit a PTZ preset to be set for a detection rule.Upon receiving the command at the communication unit 105, the monitoringcamera 100 causes the control unit 101 to create or edit a PTZ preset atthe current PTZ position and update the PTZ preset setting table 510.Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100 transmits, from the communicationunit 105, a PTZ preset token that identifies the created or edited PTZpreset. The client device 120 receives the PTZ preset token at thecommunication unit 126.

To create or edit the detection rule, the client device 120 transmits,from the communication unit 126, a detection rule create or edit commandwith designation of a detection rule name, a detection region as screencoordinates, and the PTZ preset token. The monitoring camera 100receives the command at the communication unit 105, and causes thecontrol unit 101 to create or edit the detection rule and update thedetection rule setting table 500. Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100transmits the results of the detection rule create or edit command fromthe communication unit 105. The client device 120 receives the commandresult at the communication unit 126.

To delete the PTZ preset, the client device 120 designates a PTZ presettoken and transmits PTZ preset delete command from the communicationunit 126. Here, a command related to a PTZ preset and a command relatedto a detection rule can be issued independently of each other.Accordingly, the client device 120 can issue a PTZ preset delete commandto the monitoring camera 100 regardless of whether or not the PTZ presetis associated with any detection rule. The monitoring camera 100receives the command at the communication unit 105, and causes thecontrol unit 101 to perform PTZ preset deletion processing 601corresponding to the present embodiment, and update the registeredcontent of the PTZ preset setting table 510. Furthermore, the monitoringcamera 100 transmits the result of the PTZ delete command from thecommunication unit 105. The client device 120 receives the commandresult at the communication unit 126.

In FIG. 6, the protocol of these commands may be, for example, theONVIF, an original control protocol of the monitoring camera, or thelike, and is not limited to being of a specific type.

The PTZ preset deletion processing 601 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 7. Firstly, in step S701, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding detection rulesettings from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S702, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 determines whether or not the PTZ preset to bedeleted is set for a detection rule; in other words, whether or not thePTZ preset to be deleted is associated with any detection rule. If thePTZ preset to be deleted is associated with any detection rule, thecontrol unit 101 does not delete the PTZ preset to be deleted, and theprocessing ends. On the other hand, if the PTZ preset to be deleted isnot associated with any detection rule, the processing proceeds to stepS703. In step S703, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100deletes the PTZ preset to be deleted in the PTZ preset setting table 510stored in the storage unit 102, and the processing ends.

Note that if, in step S702, the PTZ preset to be deleted is associatedwith any detection rule, the client device 120 may be notified that thePTZ preset to be deleted was not deleted. In this case, the control unit101 of the monitoring camera transmits, to the client device 120,information regarding the PTZ preset that was not deleted, andinformation regarding the detection rule associated with this PTZpreset. Then, the control unit 121 of the client device 120 displays, onthe display unit 123, both information regarding the PTZ preset andinformation regarding the detection rule associated with this PTZ presetthat are received from the monitoring camera 100. Further, the clientdevice 120 displays, on the display unit 123, a message that makes theuser recognize that the PTZ preset was not deleted due to the presenceof the detection rule associated with the PTZ preset. By displaying themessage, the user can recognize the fact that the PTZ preset was notdeleted, and the reason therefor. The user can then determine whether tocancel the deletion of the PTZ preset or to delete the detection ruleassociated with the PTZ preset and then delete the PTZ preset again.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the monitoring camera100, when receiving a PTZ preset delete command, determines whether ornot to delete the PTZ preset based on whether or not the PTZ preset tobe deleted is associated with any detection rule. This configuration canprevent erroneous deletion of a preset that is associated with adetection rule through a preset operation.

Second Embodiment

Next, a second embodiment of the invention will be described. The systemconfiguration, the functional configuration, and the hardwareconfiguration in the present embodiment are the same as those describedin the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omittedaccordingly.

FIG. 8 shows a sequence in which the monitoring camera 100 according tothe present embodiment sends a detection rule create or edit command anda PTZ preset delete command to the client device 120.

To create or edit the detection rule, the client device 120 transmits,from the communication unit 126, a detection rule create or edit commandwith designation of a detection rule name and a detection region asscreen coordinates. Upon receiving the command at the communication unit105, the monitoring camera 100 causes the control unit 101 to performdetection rule setting processing 801 and update the detection rulesetting table 500. Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100 transmits theresult of the detection rule create or edit command from thecommunication unit 105. The client device 120 receives the commandresult at the communication unit 126.

To perform a PTZ preset operation, the client device 120 transmits a PTZpreset acquire command from the communication unit 126. The monitoringcamera 100 receives the command at the communication unit 105, andcauses the control unit 101 to transmit all of the PTZ preset tokensthat are currently set in the PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in thestorage unit 102 from the communication unit 105. The client device 120receives the PTZ preset token at the communication unit 126.

To delete the PTZ preset, the client device 120 designates a PTZ presettoken and transmits PTZ preset delete command from the communicationunit 126. The monitoring camera 100 receives the command at thecommunication unit 105, and causes the control unit 101 to perform PTZpreset deletion processing 802 and update the PTZ preset setting table510. Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100 transmits the result of thePTZ delete command from the communication unit 105. The client device120 receives the command result at the communication unit 126.

In FIG. 8, the protocol of these commands may be, for example, theONVIF, an original control protocol of the monitoring camera, or thelike, and is not limited to being of a specific type.

The detection rule setting processing 801 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 9. Firstly, in step S901, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 determines whether or not the detection rulecreate or edit command received from the client device 120 includesdesignation of a PTZ preset. If a PTZ preset is not designated, theprocessing proceeds to step S902. If a PTZ preset is designated, theprocessing proceeds to step S904.

In step S902, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100 createsa PTZ preset at the current PTZ position (at this point in time), addsinformation indicating that the monitoring camera 100 has created thePTZ preset as a creator set value, and updates the PTZ preset settingtable 510 stored in the storage unit 102. Then, the processing proceedsto step S903. In step S903, the control unit 101 of the monitoringcamera 100 sets a detection rule based on the detection rule name andthe screen coordinates of the detection region that are designated bythe client, as well as the PTZ preset token created by the monitoringcamera 100 in step S902, and updates the detection rule setting table500 stored in the storage unit 102, and then the processing ends.

In step S904, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100 sets adetection rule based on the rule name and the screen coordinates of thedetection region that are designated by the client, as well as the PTZpreset token, and updates the detection rule setting table 500 stored inthe storage unit 102, and then the processing ends.

Next, the PTZ preset deletion processing 802 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 10. In step S1001, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding detection rulesettings from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S1002, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding the PTZ preset tobe deleted from the PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S1003, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 determines whether or not the PTZ preset to bedeleted has been created by the monitoring camera 100, based on thecreator set value of this PTZ preset. If the PTZ preset to be deletedhas been created by the monitoring camera 100, the PTZ preset to bedeleted is not deleted, and the processing ends. If the PTZ preset to bedeleted has not been created by the monitoring camera 100, theprocessing proceeds to step S1004. In step S1004, the control unit 101of the monitoring camera 100 deletes the PTZ preset to be deleted fromthe PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in the storage unit 102, and theprocessing ends.

The PTZ preset deletion processing 802 in FIG. 10 may be performedindependently of, or in addition to, the PTZ preset deletion processing601 described with reference to FIG. 7 in the first embodiment.

In the present embodiment, a preset created by the monitoring camera 100is created, in principle, in association with a detection rule, asdescribed in relation to FIG. 9. Accordingly, whether or not the PTZpreset is associated with a detection rule can be indirectly determinedby referencing the creator of the PTZ preset to determine whether or notto delete a PTZ preset, without referencing a registered value of thePTZ preset in the detection rule setting table 500 as in the firstembodiment.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the monitoringcamera 100 receives a PTZ preset delete command, a PTZ preset that isset for a detection rule through a preset operation can be preventedfrom being erroneously deleted, by determining whether or not to deletethe PTZ preset to be deleted based on whether or not the preset has beencreated by the monitoring camera 100.

Third Embodiment

Next, a third embodiment of the invention will be described. The systemconfiguration, the functional configuration, and the hardwareconfiguration in the present embodiment are the same as those describedin the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omittedaccordingly.

In the present embodiment, user authentication information such as auser name and a password is added to commands such as a PTZ presetdelete command transmitted from the client device 120 to the monitoringcamera 100, and the monitoring camera 100 determines whether or not toexecute each command based on the authentication information.

The PTZ preset deletion processing 601 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 11. In step S1101, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding detection rulesettings from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S1102, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 determines the authority of the user based on theauthentication information included in the command received from theclient device 120. Although the present embodiment envisions anadministrator user who has an administrator's authority and a generaluser who does not have the administrator's authority, the user authoritymay be further segmented. The user name and password of an administratorare stored in the storage unit 102 of the monitoring camera 100, and thecontrol unit 101 can determine whether or not the user is theadministrator by checking the acquired authentication informationagainst the stored user name and password.

In the following step S1103, the control unit 101 of the monitoringcamera 100 determines whether or not a condition is matched that the PTZpreset to be deleted is set for any detection rule and the authority ofthe user who issued the delete command is not the administrator. If theabove condition is matched, the processing ends without deleting the PTZpreset to be deleted. On the other hand, if the PTZ preset to be deletedis not set for any detection rule, or the user authority is theadministrator, the above condition is not matched, and thus, theprocessing proceeds to step S1104. In step S1104, the control unit 101of the monitoring camera 100 deletes the PTZ preset to be deleted fromthe PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in the storage unit 102, and theprocessing ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the monitoringcamera 100 receives a PTZ preset delete command, whether or not todelete the PTZ preset is determined based on whether or not the PTZpreset to be deleted is set for any detection rule, and the userauthority of the user who issued the PTZ preset delete command. Thisconfiguration can prevent erroneous deletion of a preset that is set fora detection rule through a preset operation.

Fourth Embodiment

Next, a fourth embodiment of the invention will be described. The systemconfiguration, the functional configuration, and the hardwareconfiguration in the present embodiment are the same as those describedin the first embodiment. The content of the sequence processing and thedetection rule setting processing 801 performed between the monitoringcamera 100 and the client device 120 is the same as that described withreference to FIGS. 8 and 9 in the second embodiment, and a descriptionthereof is omitted accordingly.

In the present embodiment, user authentication information such as auser name and a password is added to commands, such as a PTZ presetdelete command, transmitted from the client device 120 to the monitoringcamera 100, and the monitoring camera 100 determines whether or not toexecute each command based on the authentication information.

The PTZ preset deletion processing 802 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described belowwith reference to FIG. 12. In step S1201, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding detection rulesettings from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S1202, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 determines the authority of the user, based on theauthentication information included in the command received from theclient device 120. The detail of authority determination is the same asthe content described in relation to step S1102 in FIG. 11 in the thirdembodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted accordingly.

In the following step S1203, the control unit 101 of the monitoringcamera 100 acquires information regarding the PTZ preset to be deletedfrom the PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in the storage unit 102. Inthe following step S1204, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera100 determines whether or not a condition is matched that the creator ofthe PTZ preset to be deleted is the monitoring camera and the authorityof the user who issued the delete command is not the administrator. Ifthe above condition is matched, the processing ends without deleting thePTZ preset to be deleted. On the other hand, if the creator of the PTZpreset to be deleted is not the monitoring camera, or the authority ofthe user who issued the delete command is the administrator, the abovecondition is not matched, and thus, the processing proceeds to stepS1205. In step S1205, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100deletes the PTZ preset to be deleted from the PTZ preset setting table510 stored in the storage unit 102, and the processing ends.

As described above, in the fourth embodiment, when the monitoring camera100 receives a PTZ preset delete command, whether or not to delete thePTZ preset is determined based on whether or not the PTZ preset to bedeleted has been created by the monitoring camera 100, and the userauthority of the user who issued the PTZ preset delete command. Thisconfiguration can prevent erroneous deletion of a preset that is set fora detection rule through a preset operation.

Fifth Embodiment

Next, a fifth embodiment of the invention will be described. The systemconfiguration, the functional configuration, and the hardwareconfiguration in the present embodiment are the same as those describedin the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omittedaccordingly.

A description will be given below, with reference to FIG. 13, of asequence in which the monitoring camera 100 according to the presentembodiment sends a detection rule create command and a detection ruledelete command to the client device 120. The client device 120transmits, from the communication unit 126, a PTZ preset create or editcommand to create or edit a PTZ preset to be set for a detection rule.Upon receiving the command at the communication unit 105, the monitoringcamera 100 causes the control unit 101 to create or edit a PTZ preset atthe current PTZ position and update the PTZ preset setting table 510.Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100 transmits, from the communicationunit 105, a PTZ preset token that identifies the created or edited PTZpreset. The client device 120 receives the PTZ preset token at thecommunication unit 126.

To create or edit the detection rule, the client device 120 transmits,from the communication unit 126, a detection rule create or edit commandwith designation of a detection rule name, a detection region as screencoordinates, and the PTZ preset token. The monitoring camera 100receives the command at the communication unit 105, and causes thecontrol unit 101 to create or edit the detection rule and update thedetection rule setting table 500. The monitoring camera 100 alsotransmits the result of the detection rule create or edit command fromthe communication unit 105. The client device 120 receives the commandresult at the communication unit 126.

To delete a detection rule, the client device 120 transmits, from thecommunication unit 126, a detection rule delete command with designationof a rule name. Here, a command related to a detection rule and acommand related to a PTZ preset can be issued independently of eachother. Accordingly, the client device 120 can issue a detection ruledelete command to the monitoring camera 100 regardless of whether or notthe PTZ preset is associated with any detection rule. Upon receiving theaforementioned command at the communication unit 105, the monitoringcamera 100 causes the control unit 101 to perform detection ruledeletion processing 1301 corresponding to the present embodiment andupdate the detection rule setting table 500 and the PTZ preset settingtable 510. Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100 transmits the resultof the detection rule delete command from the communication unit 105.The client device 120 receives the command result at the communicationunit 126.

In FIG. 13, the protocol of these commands may be, for example, theONVIF, an original control protocol of the monitoring camera, or thelike, and is not limited to being of a specific type.

The detection rule deletion processing 1301 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 14. Firstly, in step S1401, the control unit 101 ofthe monitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding detection rulesettings from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S1402, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 determines whether or not the PTZ preset that isset for the detection rule to be deleted is set for any other detectionrule; in other words, whether or not the PTZ preset is associated withany detection rule. If the PTZ preset is not associated with any otherdetection rule, the processing proceeds to step S1403. If the PTZ presetis associated with any other detection rule, the processing proceeds tostep S1404.

In step S1403, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100 updatesthe PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in the storage unit 102 so as todelete the PTZ preset associated with the detection rule to be deleted,and then, the processing proceeds to step S1404. In step S1404, thecontrol unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100 deletes the detection ruleto be deleted from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in thestorage unit 102, and the processing ends.

As described above, in the present embodiment, when the monitoringcamera 100 receives a detection rule delete command, it determineswhether or not to delete the PTZ preset based on whether or not the PTZpreset that is associated with the detection rule to be deleted is alsoassociated with any other detection rule. With this configuration, whena detection rule is deleted, a PTZ preset that is not set for any otherdetection rule and is no longer needed can be deleted.

Sixth Embodiment

Next, a sixth embodiment of the invention will be described. The systemconfiguration, the functional configuration, and the hardwareconfiguration in the present embodiment are the same as those describedin the first embodiment, and a description thereof is omittedaccordingly.

A description will be given below, with reference to FIG. 15, of asequence in which the monitoring camera 100 according to the presentembodiment sends a detection rule create command and a detection ruledelete command to the client device 120. To create or edit the detectionrule, the client device 120 transmits, from the communication unit 126,a detection rule create or edit command with designation of a detectionrule name and a detection region as screen coordinates. Upon receivingthe command at the communication unit 105, the monitoring camera 100causes the control unit 101 to perform detection rule setting processing1501 and update the detection rule setting table 500. The details of thedetection rule setting processing 1501 is the same as the content of thedetection rule setting processing 801 described with reference to FIG. 9in the second embodiment, and a description thereof is omittedaccordingly. Furthermore, the monitoring camera 100 transmits the resultof the detection rule create or edit command from the communication unit105. The client device 120 receives the command result at thecommunication unit 126.

To delete a detection rule, the client device 120 transmits, from thecommunication unit 126, a detection rule delete command with designationof the rule name. Upon receiving the command at the communication unit105, the monitoring camera 100 causes the control unit 101 to performdetection rule deletion processing 1502 and update the detection rulesetting table 500 and the PTZ preset setting table 510. Furthermore, themonitoring camera 100 transmits the result of the detection rule deletecommand from the communication unit 105. The client device 120 receivesthe command result at the communication unit 126.

In FIG. 15, the protocol of these commands may be, for example, theONVIF, an original control protocol of the monitoring camera, or thelike, and is not limited to being of a specific type.

The detection rule deletion processing 1502 performed by the monitoringcamera 100 according to the present embodiment will be described withreference to FIG. 16. In step S1601, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires information regarding detection rulesettings from the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storageunit 102. In the following step S1602, the control unit 101 of themonitoring camera 100 acquires a PTZ preset that is set for thedetection rule to be deleted, from the PTZ preset setting table 510stored in the storage unit 102. In the following step S1603, the controlunit 101 of the monitoring camera 100 determines whether or not the PTZpreset that is set for the detection rule to be deleted has been createdby the monitoring camera 100, based on the creator set value of this PTZpreset. If the PTZ preset has been created by the monitoring camera 100,the processing proceeds to step S1604. If the PTZ preset has not beencreated by the monitoring camera 100, the processing proceeds to stepS1606.

In step S1604, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100determines whether or not the PTZ preset that is set for the detectionrule to be deleted is also set for any other detection rule, based onthe set value of the detection rule in the PTZ preset setting table 510.If the PTZ preset is not set for any other detection rule, theprocessing proceeds to step S1605. If the PTZ preset is also set for anyother detection rule, the processing proceeds to step S1606.

In step S1605, the control unit 101 of the monitoring camera 100 deletesthe PTZ preset that is set for the detection rule to be deleted, fromthe PTZ preset setting table 510 stored in the storage unit 102, and theprocessing proceeds to step S1606. In step S1606, the control unit 101of the monitoring camera 100 deletes the detection rule to be deletedfrom the detection rule setting table 500 stored in the storage unit102, and the processing ends.

Note that a preset created by the monitoring camera 100 is created, inprinciple, in association with a detection rule, as described inrelation to FIG. 9 in the second embodiment. Accordingly, a PTZ presetthat is created by the monitoring camera 100 when creating a detectionrule can be regarded as information that is not necessary for the userif the associated detection rule is not necessary and is to be deleted,unless the PTZ preset is associated with any other detection rule. Forthis reason, in the present embodiment, when a detection rule isdeleted, the PTZ preset is deleted together. On the other hand, if thePTZ preset is associated with any other detection rule, or has beencreated in accordance with a creation instruction given by the user, thePTZ preset is regarded as information necessary for the user, and onlythe detection rule is deleted.

As described above, in the sixth embodiment, when the monitoring camera100 receives a detection rule delete command, whether or not to delete aPTZ preset that is set for the detection rule to be deleted isdetermined based on whether or not the PTZ preset that is set for thedetection rule to be deleted has been created by the monitoring camera100, and whether or not the PTZ preset is set for any other detectionrule. With this configuration, when a detection rule is deleted, a PTZpreset that is no longer needed can be deleted.

Other Embodiments

Embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a computerof a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computer executableinstructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on a storage medium(which may also be referred to more fully as a ‘computer-readablestorage medium’) to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiments and/or that includes one or more circuits(e.g., application specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) for performingthe functions of one or more of the above-described embodiments, and bya method performed by the computer of the system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing the computer executable instructionsfrom the storage medium to perform the functions of one or more of theabove-described embodiments and/or controlling the one or more circuitsto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiments. The computer may comprise one or more processors (e.g.,central processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and mayinclude a network of separate computers or separate processors to readout and execute the computer executable instructions. The computerexecutable instructions may be provided to the computer, for example,from a network or the storage medium. The storage medium may include,for example, one or more of a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a storage of distributed computing systems, anoptical disk (such as a compact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD),or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™), a flash memory device, a memory card, and thelike.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2019-174539, filed on Sep. 25, 2019, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image capture device comprising: an imagecapture unit; an image-capture control unit configured to control pan,tilt, and zoom (PTZ) when an image is captured by the image captureunit; a storage unit configured to store a set value of the PTZ forcapturing an image of a predetermined region in an image-capture area ofthe image capture unit, and region information that specifies adetection region for detecting an object in a captured image; areception unit configured to receive a deletion instruction to deletethe region information from an information processing device; and aprocessing unit configured to, when the deletion instruction to deletethe region information is received by the reception unit, delete, fromthe storage unit, the region information for which the deletioninstruction has been received, and delete the set value from the storageunit if the set value associated with the region information for whichthe deletion instruction has been received is not associated withanother region information.
 2. The image capture device according toclaim 1, wherein the set value includes: a first set value created inaccordance with an instruction to create the set value given from theinformation processing device; and a second set value created inaccordance with an instruction to create the region information givenfrom the information processing device, and the processing unit deletesthe set value from the storage unit if the set value associated with theregion information for which the deletion instruction has been receivedis not associated with the other region information and is the secondset value.
 3. The image capture device according to claim 2, wherein theprocessing unit does not delete the set value from the storage unit ifthe set value associated with the region information for which thedeletion instruction has been received is also associated with the otherregion information or is the first set value.
 4. The image capturedevice according to claim 1, wherein if the region information isassociated with the set value, the image-capture control unit controlsan image-capture condition of the PTZ in the image capture unit based onthe set value, and the image capture unit outputs an image of a regiondesignated by the region information, of captured images that arecaptured under the image-capture condition.
 5. The image capture deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the reception unit receives the deletioninstruction to delete the region information, independently of adeletion instruction to delete the set value.
 6. The image capturedevice according to claim 5, wherein the deletion instruction to deletethe set value and the deletion instruction to delete the regioninformation are based on an ONVIF command.
 7. A system comprising: animage capture device including: an image capture unit; an image-capturecontrol unit configured to control pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) when animage is captured by the image capture unit; a storage unit configuredto store a set value of the PTZ for capturing an image of apredetermined region in an image-capture area of the image capture unit,and region information that specifies a detection region for detectingan object in a captured image; a reception unit configured to receive adeletion instruction to delete the region information from aninformation processing device; and a processing unit configured to, whenthe deletion instruction to delete the region information is received bythe reception unit, delete, from the storage unit, the regioninformation for which the deletion instruction has been received, anddelete the set value from the storage unit if the set value associatedwith the region information for which the deletion instruction has beenreceived is not associated with another region information; and aninformation processing device that communicates with the image capturedevice, and gives instructions related to a setting of the PTZ and asetting of the detection region.
 8. A method for controlling an imagecapture device that includes: an image capture unit; an image-capturecontrol unit configured to control pan, tilt, and zoom (PTZ) when animage is captured by the image capture unit; a storage unit configuredto store a set value of the PTZ for capturing an image of apredetermined region in an image-capture area of the image capture unit,and region information that specifies a detection region for detectingan object in a captured image; a processing unit; and an reception unitconfigured to receive a deletion instruction to delete the regioninformation from an information processing device, the methodcomprising: receiving the deletion instruction to delete the regioninformation from the information processing device, by the receptionunit; deleting, from the storage unit, the region information for whichthe deletion instruction has been received, by the processing unit; anddeleting the set value from the storage unit if the set value associatedwith the region information for which the deletion instruction has beenreceived is not associated with another region information, by theprocessing unit.
 9. A non-transitory computer-readable storage mediumstoring one or more programs including instructions that, when executedby a processor of an image capture device comprising: an image captureunit; an image-capture control unit configured to control pan, tilt, andzoom (PTZ) when an image is captured by the image capture unit; astorage unit configured to store a set value of the PTZ for capturing animage of a predetermined region in an image-capture area of the imagecapture unit, and region information that specifies a detection regionfor detecting an object in a captured image; and an reception unitconfigured to receive a deletion instruction to delete the regioninformation from an information processing device, causes the processorto perform operations of: deleting, from the storage unit, the regioninformation for which the deletion instruction has been received, uponreceiving the deletion instruction to delete the region information fromthe information processing device; and deleting the set value from thestorage unit if the set value associated with the region information forwhich the deletion instruction has been received is not associated withanother region information.